Pocket writing implement



Dec. 19, 1933. J. JENSEN 1,940,548

POCKET WRITI NG IMPLEMENT Filed Feb. 15, 1952 3 Sheets-5h66?I l mf Ww Dec. 19, 1933. 1 JENSEN POCKET WRITING IMPLEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. l5, 1932 Y Syvum/H301 Jo/m Jnsen Dec. 19, 1933. J. JENSEN 1,940,548

POCKET WR IT ING IMPLEMENT Filed Feb. l5, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a3 X az 5l i i s Patented Dee. 19, 1933 `1,940,543 POCKET WRITING IMPLEMENT l John Jensen, Cincinnati,v Ohio Appiieatien February 15,1932. serial 1510.592310 `s claims. (ci. 12o-49) The present invention relates to writing implements of the general type thatare normally` carried in the pocket or purse and has for its prin` cipal object the` provision of such an implement x wherein the Writing point is protected and out of these advantageous features and wherein all of the manipulations may be `accomplished.easily` withonehand.V i o. 1 Another object is to provide such a writing implementas will require no holding clip or chain, but which may bedropped into the pocket or purse in much-.the sameway as a Watch, thus .being easy to 4remove. Irlanipulata .use .and return. ,These `and other objects are .accomplished by the means described herein and. disclosed in the accompanying drawings'n which:

. Fig. 1 is a plan View of one embodiment of the invention, shown in condition for use.

Fig. 2 is an enlargedview showing the interior of the device of Fig.,1.. Y

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view taken online 4 4 of` Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an'interior view of thedevice of Fig. 1l with the Writing point retracted and the casing closed. Y Y. ,Y

Fig. Gis anenlarged detail of the Writing point.

Fig. '1 is a fragmentalfview showing a modified detailof the release mechanism for the retracting Vmeans of the invention..`

Fig; 8 is aV view showinga vmodiiiedshape of casing structure and a modied form'of. operatin mechanism. f

Fig.'` 911s a view taken on line 9- 9 ofFig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail ofjythe retractive release mechanism, being ,a view taken' on line `10`10 `ofFig.'8.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of theclosuremem- 4ber for ldevice of Fig. 2.` .e

In the development ofthe `present, invention it hasbeen `found that it has been a matter of adherence to custom and habit;` rather than oneof necessity, that writing implements have retained a generally elongated, rod like shape. It'has been discovered alsof -that the ordinary person .can

write ,as well without a long handled writing implement if the breadth of thehandle body is suiiicient to rest comfortably within the hand, regardless of whetherthe individual uses the so called finger movement or farm'movement in writing.

It is understood that the present' invention embraces both that class ofV writing implement characterized by the lead `pencil and Athat class characterized by `the pocket' pen, especially the fountain pen. Thelatter, because of its necessity for a cover cap, usually separable, andits limitations in ink carrying capacity, iinds especial advantages in the present invention, over and above those of convenience and compactness. ',In describing the invention the pocket fountain 70 penwill be exemplied since it is obvious that its adaptation tothe insertible lead type of pencil will include broadly the same general combination of cooperating :parts but will beV generally simpler and freer of'mechanical diftcultiesandl physicalproblems.

.Referring now tothe drawings the writing implement of this invention comprises a iiat and preferably rounded casing comprising a bottom 14 and a cover 15 between which are contained 8o .the operating elements.l A suitable stem or shaft 16 which may be rotated by a thumb piece constitutes the exterior part whereby the penis projected. from its inoperative'a'nd protectively en closed position (shownin Fig. 5) to `an operative 85 writing position (shown in Figs. 1 and `3). .A

short sleeve 18 formed on theringsection 1 9 of bottom 14 serves as a journal for stem 16. `A bevel pinion 20 on stem 16l meshes with a gear 21 journalled on a stud 22 xedto or integral with 90 bottom 14. A winding coil spring 23 has one end fixed to the gear and the other secured to the stud so that when the-gear is turned in one direction the spring 23 will be wound and will tend to return-the gear to its original position. A plate 25 may be employed as an itemV ofconvenience in assembly if desired although it is otherwise unnecessary to the successful operation `of the aperture 31 in ring member when the writing 105 point is projected through the ring member, 19. 1

A table 32 serves as a support for the writing point slide andalso isolates the moving parts fromthe ink bag. The slide Vor `guidemember 33may be integral with or attachedto table 32. :A spring responding to pinion '20.

, pawl 34 normally precludes movement of gear 21 p 36 to table 32 and is subject to elongation whenever buttcn 37 is depressed.

. Pivoted on a lug 38, which may be carried by member 25, and disposed beyond therperiphery of gear 21, is an arm or cam member 39. A pin 40 in gear 21 lies in slot 41 in cam 39. This pin and slot connection limits the rotary movement of the gear 21 and also serves to move the cam arm 39 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 2 when stern 16 is manually rotated. This action also winds spring 23, the

. tension being held by engagement of spring pawl 34 engaging the gear 21. When the pawlis Ldisengaged by depressing button 37 the gear is Arotated in the opposite direction and carries the.

cam arm 39 back to the position shown in Fig. 5.

This movement of the cam arm 39 is employed to projectV the writing `pointwhich may constitute the pen point and mounting indicated gen'- erally as 42, and which is slidable in the guide member 33. The writing point 42 is cut away to provide an inclined shoulder 43 adjacent which is a pin 44 which extends into a cam slot 45 in cam arm 39. The cam arm lies in the cut away portion andthe curved portion 46 of the arm and the adjacent edge 47 thereof bears against saidshoulder 43 to project point 42 through the guide 33 to anv operative position. The pin and slot connection 40-41 eiect the retractive move ment'of the point 42. 'Y

A large flexible ink reservoir 48 lieson table 32 and across guide 33 and from it extends a freely flexible but preferably noncollapsible tube 49 which connects with the nipple 5G which sup plies the Vwriting point with ink Vin theY usual manner.

The tube preferably has a complete coil in it so that there willbe no tendency to ejection of ink when the writing point is moved into or from the casing. Any approved means may be used 'to compress' the ink reservoir to accomplish the so-called self-filling.`A As shown, this may comprise a normally countersunk lever 5l which turns a pivoted rod 52 with spaced` fingers '53 fixed thereon and serving to press a pair of spaced platesV 54 toward table 32. It will be understood that if the pawl release member 35 is replaced by the more compact form of device illustrated in Fig. 7a much larger ink reservoir may be employed. This form of release will be explained later;

The actuation of the closure member 27 simultaneously with the reciprocation of the writing point is effected by a'spring 55 housed in groove 26 whereby the lug V56 of the closure member is yieldably urged to move the closure member to a position wherein the opening 30 coincides with the open end of guidev 33 and the aperture in member 19. This assures clearance of `the aperture in advance ofthe movement of the writing point toV an operative position. A lug 57 on "compressspring and close thev aperture after thewriting point is fully retracted.

'The release mechanism illustrated in Fig. 7 is a compact modified form which includes a tubular stem 58 which carries the pinion 59 cor- A reciprocating pin 60 actuates a bell crank 6l pivoted at 62 and operating through a slot in the Vrear end of guide 33. The opposite end 64 of the bell crank lever constitutes the holding pawl and is yieldably retained in engagement with the teeth of gear 21 by a spring member 65. The thumb piece 66 maybe lturned to rotate the tubular stem 58 and may also be depressed to actuate the pawl whereby the gear is released to the influence of the coil spring.

Fig. 9 illustrates a modified form of operating mechanism` and also a modied shape of casing. It will be understood that either casing shape or operating mechanism may be used in various combinations. In this embodiment the casing 67 takes the form of a somewhat flattened oval and carries within it an ink reservoir 68 which may be placed within suitable guides 69 to hold it in position. A writing point 70, constructed somewhat after the fashion of Fig. 6 is reciprocable in a guide 33. The writing point 70 has a perforate'boss 7l through which extends a rotatably mounted screw shaft 72 which has threads 73 of a steep or rapid pitch which engage in similar female threads in the lug 71. Shaft 72 is suitably journalled at opposite ends -74 interiorly of the casing and at the en'd opposite the writing point carries a pinion 75.Y A gear 76 is mounted on a winding stem 77 and meshes with the pinion' 75. A spring pawl 78 limits the rotation ofthe gears to one direction under normal conditions. A stem 77, however, may be depressed again'st'the yieldingY resistance of a spring 79 iso-that gearv 76 is moved out of mesh with pinionV butremains under-the influence of pawl 78. A tension s'pring 80 is hooked upon a suitable lug 8l on the casing at its-one end and upon lug 71 at its opposite end. From the foregoing it will be apparent that when stem 77 is turned'ina clockwise direction the shaft 72 will be rotated and will project the pen or lwriting point 70 forwardlythrough the guide by reason of the 'engagement ofthe thread lug 7l thereon.l This will place spring 80 undertension. The pawl 78 will hold the writing point in its projected position so that the pen or writing'implement may be used in the usual way. Inl the present instancethe tube 82 connects the in k reservoir 68 withthe point 70. When it is desired to retire the writing point,`it is-necessarysonly to depress .the stemv 77,` against resistance of the spring 79 whereupon, gear 76 and pinion 75 being disengaged, the spring 80 will exert a strong pull upon lug 71 and retract .thepoint 70 into the guide33. The pinion 75 is. of course free to, turn during this movement.

It will be appreciated that the means for projecting andretracting'the vwriting point may be modified Within the spirit and scope of this inven- F tion and that the casingineednot be limited to a circular or oval disk shape but may also be modified to any shape which-maybe considered adaptable to convenient holding within the hand and which will-be subject, von account of its breadth in comparison tothe usual Vrod-likel holder or handle for pens and pencils, to facile holding and manipulation during 'theact of writing.

1 The operation of the device will be readily apparent. The device in `its vclosed condition would normally be carried in the purse or in any pocket which may be considered convenient, the device being normally aboutithe size of anordinarywatch. The writer, desiring touse the writing implement, would remove the device from his pocket and with the thumb and finger of one hand be'ableto turn the stem to project the writing point.

. The device would then be heldwith one of the relative at sides .against the thumb and, with against the oppositeflattened side of the casing, the pen or pencil may be used with surprising facility. Upon completion of writing a mere depression of the stem, or of the lateral button 37, as the case may be, will automatically retract the writing point whereupon the implement may be restored to the pocket without the necessity of engaging clips or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a substantially flat hollow casing, a guide member in said casing, a writing member reciprocable in the guide and movableV into and from the casing, an externally disposed manually rotatablekmember, means within the casing actuatable by said rotatable member to project the writing member to `an operative position, means conditioned by the projecting movement of the writing member tending to retract the writing member into the casing and an externally controlled means for releasing the writing means to the action of said retracting means.

2. An odd shaped writing implement comprising a flattened hollow casing, a cooperating gear and pinion within the casing, exteriorly operatlng means for actuating the gear and pinion, spring means tending to oppose movement of the gear'and pinion, a guide, a writing point reciprocable in the guide, means actuated in one Ydirection through the agency of the gear and guide way as the writing point is projected and retracted.

`3. In combination a flat hollow casing having an opening in the edge thereof, a guide in said casing, a writing point reciprocable in said guide andl through the opening, an exteriorly rotatable stem supported by said casing, means within the casing and operable by said stem-for moving the writing point along the guide and through the opening, vmeans yieldaoly resisting said last mentioned movement, and means releasable from the exterior of the i casing for rendering said yielding means active for withdrawing the writing point into the guide.

4. In a writing implement the combination of a hollow iiat casing having an opening in the edge thereof, a writing point, a guide for the point interiorly of the casing, a stem member rotatable for effecting movement of the point through the guide and said opening in the casing, spring means resisting said last mentioned movement and tending to return the point into the casing, means retaining the point in said extended position and means for releasing said last mentioned means to effect automatic retraction of the point.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of a hollow ilat casing, a writing point member slidably mounted therein, an intermeshing gear and pinion within said casing, astem exteriorly of the casing for vrotating Vsaid intermeshing members, means connected to the writing point and rendered operative by saicl` intermeshing members for moving thepoint to an operative position wherein the point protrudes point, means normally precluding retraction of said point and rendered inoperative for permitting such retraction, a compressible ink reservoir in said casing and a iiexible tube connecting the to hold the gear against the inuence of the spring, a cam arm pivoted in the casing and overhanging said gear, pin and slot connections between said arm and gear, a guide, a writing point -sliclable` in the guide, a pin and slot connection between the point and said arm whereby the arm, when moved under the influence of the spring and gear, retracts the point into the guide in the casing and a shoulder on said point engagable by said arm for projecting the point when the gear is turned by the pinion. l

7. In a device of the class described the combination of a casing having an aperture therein, a writing point movable through the aperture'into said casing, a gear and cam, arm in the casing `from the casing, means tending to retract theV operative vto reciprocate said writing point to operative" and inoperative positions, means to turn said gear `in opposite directions, al spring urgedY closure for said aperture in the casing and means on said gear operative to open the closure in ad- Vance of the projection of the point.v u

8. In a device of the class Ydescribed the combination of a casing, ay writing point reciprocably mounted therein, the casing being apertured to permit the said point to project from the casing at one of its limits of Vreciprocation, a guide for said point, a lug projecting from the point, a

screw journalled at opposite ends in the casing and threadedly engaging said lug, means for turningv the screw whereby the point is projected from the casing, a spring operative on the lug to retract the writing point and means normally precluding voperationof thespring and releasable from rexterior of said casing.

. JOHN JENSEN.

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